I am very pleased to welcome you to the Vatican and to have this opportunity to share your joy in the celebration of the thirty-third anniversary of your ordination to the priesthood. My greetings and congratulations to Bishop Kim and to all of you! My visit to your country last year, and the memorable experience of meeting so many of your people, have left me with a great hope that the seed of faith planted by your Martyrs, your forefathers, will bear ever greater fruit in Christian living and in genuine service to the well-being of all Koreans. May the fidelity of the Martyrs live on in you as a precious heritage!

At the Mass of Ordination in Taegu I had the opportunity to peak of the need for the priest to be where Christ is. This means hat we must be with him not only in our ministry to others but also in our own participation in the sacraments, in our own meditation on his word, and in opening ourselves to the gifts of grace which are abundantly bestowed on each one of us. I know that this union with Christ has been the strength of your priesthood throughout the years since your ordination. I pray that you will continue to find complete joy and strength in that closeness to the divine Master.

On all of you, on your families, and on the people you serve, I invoke abundant heavenly graces and I gladly impart to you my Apostolic Blessing. May God bless Korea!